Bra with bra band cover

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses a column or piece of cloth used to wrap around a back bra band in order to wear the bra with an open back garment of the same cloth, a cloth that color coordinates with the wrapped cloth, or a non-color coordinating cloth.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that issubject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection tothe reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patentdisclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent filesor records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bra cover. Specifically, the presentinvention relates to a bra back band cover to be worn with a matching ornon-matching “open back” garment.

Description of Related Art

Women's garment styles seem almost limitless. One of the more popularstyles of women's garment styles includes an open back dress. Open backdesigns appear in a number of garments, such as dresses, blouses,shirts, tees, tank tops, jackets, jumpsuits, and the like. Because anopen back garment means that conventional bras, having a horizontal backband, can't be utilized or the undergarment bra band is seen across theback (and around the shoulder blade area), a number of solutions besidesconvention bras are utilized by women. These solutions include goingbraless, stick on cup bras, bras with neck straps, bras with no, or alow back, band and the like.

For many women, none of these solutions are adequate and, because ofbreast size or other reasons, they need to have a bra with the standardbra band going straight around the back. Typically, these women avoidopen back garments. A solution for these types of situations would beuseful and, if the solution were useful with a standard bra, women wouldnot have to buy additional bras just to wear an open back dress.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The discovery has been made that a bra can be worn with an open backgarment without the problems identified above. By forming a column offabric and placing the column over the back bra band, the bra can beworn with the garment.

Accordingly, the invention relates to an open back garment system foruse with a woman wearing a bra with a conventional horizontal back braband comprising:

-   -   a) an open back garment made of a cloth having a first pattern;        and    -   b) an open column of cloth that is open at both ends, made of        cloth having the first pattern, or a cloth having a pattern that        is different than the first pattern, designed to fit over the        back bra band while the woman is wearing the open back garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a back view of an open back garment (dress).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the open column of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the column of a bra band.

FIG. 4 is a view of an open back garment and column on a bra band.

FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b are perspective views of the band being placed on abra band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described indetail, specific embodiments, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of theprinciples and not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments shown and described. In the description below, likereference numerals are used to describe the same, similar orcorresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detaileddescription defines the meaning of the terms used herein andspecifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the artto practice the invention.

Definitions

The terms “about” and “essentially” mean ±10 percent.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as morethan one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or asmore than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as atleast a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as usedherein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term“coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although notnecessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to onlyclaiming the present invention with such comprising language. Anyinvention using the term comprising could be separated into one or moreclaims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is sointended.

References throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certainembodiments”, and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of thepresent invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in variousplaces throughout this specification are not necessarily all referringto the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner inone or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive ormeaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any ofthe following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. Anexception to this definition will occur only when a combination ofelements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutuallyexclusive.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustratingcertain convenient embodiments of the present invention, and are not tobe considered as limitations thereto. The term “means” preceding apresent participle of an operation indicates a desired function forwhich there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods,devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that oneskilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in viewof the disclosure herein and use of the term “means” is not intended tobe limiting.

As used herein, the phrase “open back garment” refers to a woman'sgarment that is low cut in the back or any open in the back garment,such that the horizontal back bra band of a conventional bra would beseen when wearing the garment. Examples are low backs, slits, cutoutsand the like. One of skill in the art would be able to determine when agarment is open back, examples of such garments are listed above. Thegarment will be made of a cloth such as cotton, polyester, silk or thelike, and have a color and/or pattern to the cloth for decorativepurposes.

As used herein, the phrase “conventional back bra band” refers to theback fastening band of a bra, wherein the back band fastener sitshorizontally when properly fitted on a woman, as noted in pictures inWikipedia on bras incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

As used herein, the phrase “open column of cloth” refers to a columnopen at both ends (as shown in the figures) such that it can be slippedover the horizontal back band of the conventional bra or slit along thelength and wrapped around the bra band, then closed with snaps, Velcroand the like. That is accomplished by placing it on one side of the bandbefore the band is fastened, then fastening the band and positioning thecolumn across the back band or just wrapping the column around the backbra band. The column is a length such that, when worn with the open backgarment, spans the exposed area of the open back garment. If the columnis made of the same cloth and pattern as the open back garment, thecolumn will appear to be a part of the garment and hide the bra band. Ifit is made of a color coordinated pattern, or other second patterncolored cloth, it will be a distinct fashion contrast. “Colorcoordinated” refers to colors, elements, and parts of the pattern thatis blended or matched to the first pattern of the low-backed garment. Inone embodiment, the column is fastened, at least in part, i.e. at oneend, or can be separate. Accordingly, one could sell the device with amatching garment, or it could be a standard part of the garment, orcould be sold separately from the garment. One of skill viewing thedrawings and reading the disclosure can figure out how big or small thecolumn needs to be, the diameter, and how to attach the column, such aselastic bands at each open end, or however else one would like to attachthe column depending on the type of open back garment it is being usedwith.

Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a back view of a woman with anopen back garment (a dress) wearing a horizontal band bra. Woman 1 hason dress 2 having pattern 3, indicated by shading on the dress, theconventional bra band 4 shows bra hooks 5 for attaching the ends of thebra band.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the open column of cloth 20 having openends 21 and 22 with elastic bands 23 and 24 and pattern 25 indicated byshading.

FIG. 3 shows the column of cloth 20 mounted on the back band 4 of a bra30. The column is mounted by placing it on the band before or after theband is fastened together.

FIG. 4 is a back view of a woman 1 wearing dress 2 having an open backwith pattern 3 with column of fabric 20 having pattern 3. As noted, theband now looks like it is part of the dress, but a color coordinatedband or any other pattern is also contemplated.

FIG. 5a shows a version of the column of fabric 20 which is scrunched toone side of bra 30. Bra snaps 51 and 52 are then fastened together andthe column of fabric 20 stretches back over the snaps 51 and 52 coveringthe entire band 4.

FIG. 5b shows an alternative version of applying the column of cloth 20.In this embodiment, the cloth 20 is sliced down its length and wrappedaround back band 4, and fastened by hook and loops fasteners 53 whichmate when the fabric is folded over the back band to form a column.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains maymake modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principlesof the present invention without departing from its spirit orcharacteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings.Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in allrespects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of thepresent invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims ratherthan by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while thepresent invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and thelike apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope ofthe invention as claimed by the applicant.

What is claimed is:
 1. An open back garment system for use with a personwearing a bra with a conventional horizontal back bra band comprising:a) an open back garment made of a cloth having a first pattern; and b)an open column of cloth that is open at both ends, made of cloth havingthe first pattern, or a cloth having a pattern that is different thanthe first pattern, designed to fit around the horizontal back bra bandwhile the person is wearing the open back garment without furtherattachment to the bra.
 2. The open back system according to claim 1wherein the open ends of the open column are fitted circumferentiallywith elastic bands designed to hold the column of cloth in place on thebra band.
 3. A device to be worn on the horizontal back band of aconventional bra that is worn by a person wearing an open back garmentof a first pattern, comprising an open column of cloth that is open atboth ends made of cloth having the first pattern, a cloth having apattern that is color coordinated with the first pattern, or a secondpattern not color coordinated, designed to fit around the horizontalback bra band while the person is wearing the low-back garment whereinthe column is formed by one of sewing or by fasteners and is nototherwise designed to attach to the bra.
 4. A device according to claim3 wherein the device is slit along the length and wraps around the backbra band to fasten.
 5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the lowback garment is a dress.
 6. An open back garment system for use with aperson wearing a bra with a conventional horizontal back bra bandcomprising: a) an open back garment made of a cloth having a firstpattern; and b) an open column of cloth that is open at both ends, madeof cloth having the first pattern, or a cloth having a pattern that isdifferent than the first pattern, designed to fit only over the back braband while the person is wearing the open back garment wherein the openends of the open column are fitted circumferentially with elastic bandsdesigned to hold the column of cloth in place on the bra band.